Children Affected by AIDS Foundation

The Children Affected by AIDS Foundation (CAAF) is the global nonprofit foundation devoted to providing social, educational, recreation and other critical support programs to children impacted by HIV/AIDS. It helps children in need through separate domestic and international programs, distributing grants to community-based, non-profit organizations that provide services to children infected with HIV or affected by AIDS.

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Mission

The mission of the Foundation is to make a positive difference in the lives of children infected with HIV and affected by AIDS. It accomplishes this by helping meet their diverse special needs, advocating and educating on their behalf, and bringing joy and fun into their lives.

U.S. Programs

1. Camp Network - Allow more children affected by AIDS to attend summer camp by making grants, facilitating communication between agencies helping such children to attend a camp, developing new camps, and hosting meetings of camp providers to enhance the experience of children affected by AIDS.
2. Dial-A-Kid - Provides telephone service for low-income families in the foundation's constituency.
3. Play Areas Initiative - Provides funding to facilities catering to CAAF's constituents that are financially unable to construct or maintain playgrounds.
4. Family Assistance - Families who experience financial hardships as a result of medical bills or other expenses brought on by the impact of HIV/AIDS often request relief from their local social services agencies. The Children Affected by AIDS Foundation awards grants to these agencies.

Global Programs

1. Partnering with the MAC AIDS Foundation, CAAF is providing capacity building services to nongovernmental organizations in the Caribbean and Latin America to help mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on children in those regions.
2. Its International Program for HIV – Orphans and Vulnerable Children, jointly sponsored with the Mattel Children's Foundation, supports children who have had one or more parents die of HIV/AIDS.

Fundraising

The Foundation's trademark fundraising effort is Dream Halloween(R), kid-friendly costume parties held in October in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. Over $25 million has been raised for their programs over the years through Dream Halloween(R). In addition to its major events, the Foundation accepts donations year-round on its Web site and by other means. Jamie Lee Curtis and other celebrities have contributed to CAAF over the years.

History

CAAF was created in 1993 by Joe Cristina, a Mattel, Inc. executive. He continues to serve as the board's chair.

Administration

CAAF has a staff of 10 led by President Catherine Brown. The group has its headquarters in Los Angeles and maintains a satellite office in Chicago.

More Information

CAAF Web site